microtome knife profile
TRANSCRIPT
Faris K Department of MLT MCH Trivandrum
KNIFE PROFILEKNIFE PROFILE
Knives are modelled according to the tissue to be sectioned and the embedding medium.
KNIFE PROFILESKNIFE PROFILES
Many knife profiles
profile A, B, C & D (Histotechnology)
PROFILE A (PLANO CONCAVE)PROFILE A (PLANO CONCAVE)
One side of cutting surface is flat and the other is concave with different degrees of concavity
Extremely sharp, but delicate
Used for cutting soft samples like nitrocellulose embedded tissues
The plane surface is closest to tissue block
Sledge and rotary microtome
PLANO CONCAVEPLANO CONCAVE
PROFILE B (BICONCAVE)PROFILE B (BICONCAVE)
It is the classical knife shape with concavity on both sides
Introduced by Heiffor
Rocking microtome and sledge microtome
Length 100-250mm
Less rigid
Prone to vibration
BICONCAVEBICONCAVE
PROFILE C (WEDGE)PROFILE C (WEDGE)
Use in all type of microtome to cut all type of materials
Both cutting surface are plane
Known as standard profile
Size 100-350mm
WEDGE KNIFEWEDGE KNIFE
PROFILE D (TOOL EDGE)PROFILE D (TOOL EDGE)
Wedge knife with steep cutting edge
Hard object( un-decalcified bone)
Stouter to give rigidity
Tungsten carbide coated edges(rigidity)
Have detachable handle (to screw with holder)
CONTI..….CONTI..….
Wedge knife is stable for long time
Need more force to achieve the cut
Varying length available
80mm --freezing microtome
240mm-- base sledge microtome